Sunday, January 22, 2012

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23.01. (Mon) 20:00 Morocco - Tunisia

Morocco Team
منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم (Morocco)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MOROCCO

LamyaghriBasser, Kaouatri, Benatia, Kaddouri
Belhanda, Kharja
Taarabt, Boussoufa, Amrabat
Chamakh

TUNISIA

MathlouthiIfa, Haggui, Abdennour, Jemal
Traoui, Korbi
Allagui, Chikhaoui, Dhaouadi
Khelifa
After missing out on the 2010 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Morocco are out to prove to the continent, and perhaps even themselves, that the days of underachieving are truly behind them. With Eric Gerets at the helm, the Atlas Lions were, for the most part, outstanding in the qualifiers. Furthermore, they will be adequately prepared for their Tunisian opponents as they had to oust Algeria to get to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Morocco prepared with a Spain-based training camp that featured a 3-1 comeback win over Grasshopper Zurich and a goalless draw against another Swiss side, Basel. The team looks to be in good shape but Gerets hasn’t been spared injury concerns as the influential Oussama Assaidi has tendinitis in his achilles tendon that may keep him out of the first game, and possibly longer than that.
Facing the Lions are Tunisians who struggled mightily in qualifying due to a combination of political upheaval, injuries, and coaching changes. Despite barely making it, the Carthage Eagles will surely benefit from having a team composed of six representatives from African club champions Esperance. Furthermore, coach Sami Trabelsi and many of the players at his disposal were victorious at the 2011 Africa Championship of Nations (Chan).
In terms of injuries, Issam Jemaa is carrying a hamstring pull that will almost surely prevent him from taking part in this encounter. In addition, Trabelsi will be unable to use his preferred left-back, Khalil Chammam, who is suspended for this encounter due to yellow card accumulation. Koln’s Ammar Jemal is expected to take over on the left side of defence.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Morocco haven’t won the African Cup on Nations since 1976 in Ethiopia while Tunisia last lifted it on home soil in 2004, beating the Atlas Lions 2-1 in the final.
  • Tunisia ousted Morocco in 2011 Africa Championship of Nations (Chan) qualifying in a tense match.
  • The last time Morocco and Tunisia faced each other in an official match was back in 2007 when they tied 1-1 in Casablanca.
  • Morocco’s Younes Belhanda may end up involved in a midfield battle with his Montpellier team-mate, Jamel Saihi.
  • The Carthage Eagles qualified for the 2006 World Cup at the expense of the Atlas Lions.
  • Neither of the two north African teams qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Prediction
Both teams have a great deal of offensive firepower and one can expect plenty of goals to be scored so long as both sides play to their full potential. A draw is entirely possible between two sides that know each other very well.
Editor's Prediction
Morocco 2-2 Tunisia